Chapter 106: Goat Milk Tea

"Since everything can be settled today, there is no need to rush. Wrap up your current tasks and set out tomorrow," Li Wenyuan said, counting the days on his fingers.

"Understood." Hearing that there were matters requiring her personal attention, Qiu Niang did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.

The next day, Li Wenyuan was once again awakened by Qiu Niang. This was only natural; under the tight security of Li Wenyuan’s most loyal death soldiers, not even a bird could fly in, save for Qiu Niang, whom Li Wenyuan had personally authorized. After being pinched awake by her, a reluctant Li Wenyuan was served by Qiu Niang as he washed, dressed, and began his breakfast.

Qiu Niang took a delightful sip of the milk tea before her and asked with satisfaction, "I’m impressed you managed to come up with the idea of using sheep's milk for tea. It actually tastes quite good."

"Life, after all, is meant to be enjoyed as much as possible. This sheep's milk comes from the herds we’ve acquired—partly purchased, partly seized—from the Tujue people over the last few years. Beyond what we keep at the Shandan Horse Farm for our own use, the rest is distributed to those who are unable to work the fields, helping them live a little better. This, as you can see, is produced by the common folk," Li Wenyuan said with a smile.

"Have you considered promoting this on the grasslands?" Qiu Niang suggested. "The grassland people mostly eat meat year-round, yet they have never liked the bitter taste of tea to cleanse their palates of grease. If you offered this blended milk tea, it would likely suit their tastes perfectly."

"I have thought about it, but if we are to promote it, we must find a way to maximize the profit. It hasn't become popular on the grasslands yet, so if we just push the method, the quality will vary wildly based on individual skill. If only there were a way for us to produce and sell a finished product, keeping the preparation process in our own hands," Li Wenyuan said, deep in thought.

"There is a way, actually," Qiu Niang said with a sudden smile.

This remark startled Li Wenyuan, who quickly asked, "Qiu Niang, you have a solution?"

"Turn it into canned goods," she said dismissively.

"I’ve considered that, but I’ve never dealt with it before. How would I know how to make canned goods?" Li Wenyuan’s rising confidence deflated instantly.

"I happen to know a little about it," Qiu Niang said, finishing the last of her milk tea.

"You do? Tell me, I’m listening," Li Wenyuan muttered, stuffing the last bite of a steamed bun and some beef into his mouth.

"Around here, there are oak trees with dark, grayish-brown, somewhat smooth bark that leans slightly in the wind. We have plenty of these in the mountains near Guazhou. The thicker parts of their bark can be processed into cork material, which can be used to seal the cans. Besides that, these trees can also cultivate wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and other edible fungi; they aren't just for corks," Qiu Niang explained.

"As for the containers, we can use ordinary clay jars. We can have craftsmen mass-produce them with narrow necks. This saves on cork material and makes them easier to drink from, as the grassland people loathe anything overly complicated."

"But how can we handle the sterilization? We don't have things like ultraviolet lamps," Li Wenyuan asked.

"My dear Administrator, you are excellent in every regard, but you tend to overcomplicate things. While we lack such advanced technology, we have very effective traditional methods."

"Traditional methods?"

"Exactly. We can use high-temperature steam sterilization. Using a structure similar to a steamer, we can place the jars in water at the bottom to heat the milk tea inside. In the steamer trays above, we place the corks. We use the high-temperature steam to create a sterile environment, then insert the corks into the jars while they are still hot. As it cools, the contraction of air will create a low-pressure environment inside the jar, pulling the cork in tight and sealing it. This ensures both a seal and sterility, so long-term storage will be no problem at all."

"Is this true? Is it really possible?" Li Wenyuan stared into her eyes, his own shining with excitement.

"You are the Administrator of the Western Regions; you have the power and the resources. If you don't believe me, you can try it on a small scale first. I only learned of this by chance," Qiu Niang said, putting on an innocent expression.

That very afternoon, Li Wenyuan found a local potter in Guazhou and gave him a sketch, commissioning several jars. Once finished, the potter could go to the local government office to collect payment. Later, guided by Qiu Niang, Li Wenyuan went to the oak grove. He lightly cut a piece of bark, and it was exactly as she described—the material was perfect for corks. There was even another layer of bark underneath.

Qiu Niang explained, "These oak trees have two layers of bark. After a certain age, the outer layer sheds, and a new layer regenerates beneath it. As long as you don't harvest both layers at once, the process can be repeated endlessly."

Li Wenyuan nodded and told his men, "Have the Guazhou government assign people to harvest this grove. Determine how long it takes for the second layer to grow before the next harvest. Mark and register every tree after collection to ensure we don't harvest the same one twice and cause it to die."

His aide nodded, recorded the instructions with a charcoal pencil, and handed them to a messenger, who rode off toward Guazhou. Li Wenyuan then took his party and headed toward Dunhuang Commandery. On horseback, Qiu Niang asked, "Administrator, you mentioned there were matters for me to handle with you in Dunhuang. What are they exactly?"

"How is the influence of your Night Owls in Dunhuang?" Li Wenyuan asked suddenly.

"You could say it covers the entire commandery. Even if you wanted to know who the Governor was sleeping with, the Night Owls could tell you by dawn," she said proudly. After all, she had built the Night Owls from nothing. It had been a struggle, starting without enough manpower to cover a single county, but the fact that they had now infiltrated every major city in the country was a miracle—one driven not just by Li Wenyuan’s unlimited financial support, but by her own undeniable skill.

"Then how could you not know why I brought you here?" Li Wenyuan laughed.

Qiu Niang tilted her head, frowned, and then exclaimed, "Is it the Western Tujue?!"